King Abdullah chairs Cabinet session (1/30/12)

January 30, 2012

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz began the Cabinet session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh today with a briefing on his latest contacts with foreign leaders, including a message he received from Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and a telephone call he received from Moroccan King Mohammed VI.

After listening to a number of reports on Arab and international developments, the Cabinet lauded the statement issued by the 4th Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Turkey. The declaration stressed the depth of relations between the two sides, the joint desire to enhance ties and the mutual interest in preserving peace and stability in the region.

Noting the Arab League’s suspension of its monitoring mission in Syria due to escalating violence, the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom’s regret over the mounting civilian casualties. It stressed the importance of concerted efforts to end the bloodshed and to meet the legitimate demands of the Syrian people.

Next, the Cabinet reviewed the various visits made by Saudi delegations to foreign countries last week, including a trip led by the Minister of Justice to Washington, D.C.; participation in the Trade Policy Review of the Kingdom by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva; and attendance at the opening of the “Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam” exhibition in London and the “Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces through the Ages” exhibition in Berlin.

After reviewing its remaining agenda items, the Cabinet assigned the Deputy Minister of Defense to become the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Organization for Military Industries; reshuffled the Board of Directors of the National Commission for Wildlife for a once-renewable period of three years; authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss a draft agreement on general cooperation with Afghanistan; authorized the President General of Youth Welfare to sign a draft agreement on general cooperation with Pakistan in the field of sports; and accredited the two final accounts of the state for fiscal years 1426/1427 H. and 1427/1428 H.

The Cabinet appointed Hashim Rajeh as Administrative Consultant at the Ministry of Labor (15th rank); Mohammed Al-Matrafi as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Youssef Al-Shaer as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mohammed Al-Dossary as Mayor of Baha Region at the Baha Governorate (14th rank).